Royce Global Trust Manager Commentary
article 08-22-2024

Royce Global Trust Manager Commentary

Our companies boast generally strong long-term growth prospects, low debt, positive free cash flows, high returns on invested capital, and/or proven management expertise. Overall, we think they appear well positioned for a market that is more focused on fundamentals and/or from a reaccelerating global economy.

TELL US
WHAT YOU
THINK

Fund Performance

For the year-to-date period ended 6/30/24, Royce Global Trust advanced 7.1% on a net asset value (NAV) basis and an impressive 14.1% based on its market price, well ahead of the 2.3% gain for its unleveraged benchmark, the MSCI ACWI Small Cap Index, for the same period. The Fund also beat its benchmark on an NAV basis for the 1-year period while trailing for the 3-, 5- and 10-year periods ended 6/30/24.

What Worked… and What Didn’t

Eight of the Fund’s 10 equity sectors made positive contributions to performance in 2024’s first half, led by Financials, Industrials, and Information Technology. Health Care and Communication Services detracted while Energy made the smallest contribution. At the industry level, capital markets (Financials), trading companies & distributors (Industrials), and semiconductors & semiconductor equipment (Information Technology) were the biggest contributors while the top detractors were building products (Industrials), media (Communication Services), and specialty retail (Consumer Discretionary).

At the position level, the top contributor was FTAI Aviation, an aircraft engine lessor that also offers a cost-effective engine maintenance, repair, and exchange program that is eagerly sought by smaller airlines. FTAI’s shares rose largely because of strong industry fundamentals—the company beat earnings estimates for 1Q24 and announced large multi-year deals for its workhorse V2500 engines with LATAM Airlines Chile and International Aero Engines—increased earnings power from the internalization of a management agreement, and the purchase of a key manufacturing facility from Lockheed Martin. Vistry Group designs, builds, and sells new homes for both private customers and social landlords. It offers a portfolio of properties ranging from one- and two-bedroom apartments to five and six bedroom detached family homes. We like its asset-light business model and its ongoing prospects as lower mortgage rates in the U.K. should help to stoke demand. In its 2023 annual report, Vistry announced the successful integration of an acquisition, implemented a strategy to focus exclusively on its resilient Partnerships model, and delivered a robust performance relative to its peers. Headquartered in Israel, Nova develops, produces, and markets monitoring and measurement systems for the semiconductor manufacturing industry. In May, Nova reported better than expected revenue and earnings, as well as record operating and free cash flow, driven by high demand for its cutting-edge applications in logic, memory, and advanced semiconductor packaging.

EVI Industries, which distributes commercial laundry and dry cleaning equipment, industrial boilers, and related parts for its U.S. customer base, was the top-detracting position in 2024’s first half. While continuing to operate effectively, both its business and stock have faced challenges, including declining profits, increased operating costs and interest expenses, competitive pressures, and environmental regulations. Listed in Italy, Carel Industries is a family owned, global leader in the manufacturing of niche electronic components such as controllers, sensors, and software for original equipment manufacturers in the HVAC and refrigeration sectors. Its products help air conditioners, humidifiers, and heat exchangers work more intelligently and effectively, resulting in improved energy efficiency and lower total cost of ownership. Tough comparables and a slowdown in the European heat pump market put pressure on its stock price in the first half. MarketWise offers a platform of subscription businesses that provides premium financial research, software, education, and tools for U.S. customers. Its business continues to normalize following a Covid-induced growth spurt that saw many people becoming first-time investors—and sustaining this level of growth has proven elusive. The company has reduced costs and staff while also getting rid of poorly performing products. We held a stake in each of these businesses at the end of June.

The Fund’s advantage over the MSCI ACWI Small Cap in the first half of 2024 was attributable to both stock selection and sector allocation decisions, with the former making the bigger impact. At the sector level, stock selection in Financials, Information Technology, and Consumer Discretionary did most to boost relative results. Conversely, stock selection detracted in Health Care, as did our lower weight in Energy and higher weight in Communication Services.


Top Contributors to Performance Year-to-Date Through 6/30/241

FTAI Aviation
Vistry Group
Nova
Protector Forsikring
Tel Aviv Stock Exchange

1 Includes dividends

Top Detractors from Performance Year-to-Date Through 6/30/242

EVI Industries
Carel Industries
MarketWise Cl. A
IMCD
YouGov

2 Net of dividends

Current Positioning and Outlook

The Fund’s focus remains on identifying and owning companies with durable competitive advantages that enable them to generate and sustain above-average returns on invested capital and compound stockholder value well into the future. While their stock prices are not immune to near-term market sentiments, over the long run quality companies within small cap have historically offered solid capital preservation in down markets while also participating strongly when small-caps flourish. Of course, we believe our companies boast generally strong long-term growth prospects, low debt, positive free cash flows, high ROIC, and/or proven management expertise. Overall, they appear well positioned for a market that at this writing appears more focused on fundamentals and/or from a reaccelerating global economy.

Average Annual Total Returns Through 06/30/24 (%)

QTR1 YTD1 1YR 3YR 5YR 10YR SINCE INCEPT.
(10/17/13)
RGT 4.0214.0522.25-2.277.725.675.75
XRGTX (NAV) -0.557.0816.63-1.216.825.686.10

Annual Operating Expenses: N/A

1 Not annualized.

Important Performance, Expense and Disclosure Information

Important Performance and Expense Information

All performance information reflects past performance, is presented on a total return basis, and reflects the reinvestment of distributions. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than performance quoted. Returns as of the most recent month-end may be obtained at www.royceinvest.com. The market price of the Fund's shares will fluctuate, so that shares may be worth more or less than their original cost when sold.

The Fund invests primarily in securities of small-cap and mid-cap companies, which may involve considerably more risk than investing in larger-cap companies. The Fund's broadly diversified portfolio does not ensure a profit or guarantee against loss. From time to time, the Fund may invest a significant portion of its net assets in foreign securities, which may involve political, economic, currency and other risks not encountered in U.S. investments.

Current month-end performance may be obtained at our Prices and Performance page.

Notes to Performance and Other Important Information

The thoughts expressed in this report concerning recent market movements and future prospects for small company stocks are solely the opinion of Royce at June 30, 2024, and, of course, historical market trends are not necessarily indicative of future market movements. Statements regarding the future prospects for particular securities held in the Funds’ portfolios and Royce’s investment intentions with respect to those securities reflect Royce’s opinions as of June 30, 2024 and are subject to change at any time without notice. There can be no assurance that securities mentioned in this report will be included in any Royce-managed portfolio in the future.


As of 6/30/24, the percentage of Fund assets was as follows: FTAI Aviation was 2.8%, Vistry Group was 3.8%, Nova was 1.7%, Protector Forsikring was 2.1%, Tel Aviv Stock Exchange was 2.0%, EVI Industries was 1.9%, Carel Industries was 0.8%, MarketWise Cl. A was 0.2%, IMCD was 1.0%, YouGov was 0.1%.


Sector weightings are determined using the Global Industry Classification Standard (“GICS”). GICS was developed by, and is the exclusive property of, Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”) and MSCI Inc. (“MSCI”). GICS is the trademark of S&P and MSCI. “Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS)” and “GICS Direct” are service marks of S&P and MSCI. 

All indexes referred to are unmanaged and capitalization weighted. Each index’s returns include net reinvested dividends and/or interest income. Russell Company (“Russell”) is the source and owner of the trademarks, service marks and copyrights related to the Russell Indexes. Russell® is a trademark of Frank Russell Company. Neither Russell nor its licensors accept any liability for any errors or omissions in the Russell Indexes and/or Russell ratings or underlying data and no party may rely on any Russell Indexes and/or Russell ratings and/or underlying data contained in this communication. No further distribution of Russell Data is permitted without Russell’s express written consent. Russell does not promote, sponsor or endorse the content of this communication. The Russell 2000 Index is an index of domestic small-cap stocks. It measures the performance of the 2,000 smallest publicly traded U.S. companies in the Russell 3000 Index. The Russell 2000 Value and Growth Indexes consist of the respective value and growth stocks within the Russell 2000 as determined by Russell Investments. The Russell Microcap Index includes 1,000 of the smallest securities in the Russell 2000 Index, along with the next smallest eligible securities as determined by Russell. The Russell 2500 is an unmanaged, capitalization-weighted index of the 2,500 smallest publicly traded U.S. companies in the Russell 3000 index. The returns for the Russell 2500-Financial Sector represent those of the financial services companies within the Russell 2500 index. Source: MSCI. MSCI makes no express or implied warranties or representations and shall have no liability whatsoever with respect to any MSCI data contained herein. The MSCI data may not be further redistributed or used as a basis for other indexes or any securities or financial products. This report is not approved, endorsed, reviewed or produced by MSCI. None of the MSCI data is intended to constitute investment advice or a recommendation to make (or refrain from making) any kind of investment decision and may not be relied on as such. The MSCI ACWI Small Cap Index is an unmanaged, capitalization-weighted index of global small-cap stocks.The MSCI ACWI ex USA Small Cap Index is an index of global small-cap stocks, excluding the United States.The performance of an index does not represent exactly any particular investment, as you cannot invest directly in an index. Returns for the market indexes used in this report were based on information supplied to Royce by Russell Investments. Royce has not independently verified the above described information.

This material contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), that involve risks and uncertainties, including, among others, statements as to: 

-the Funds’ future operating results,

-the prospects of the Funds’ portfolio companies,

-the impact of investments that the Funds have made or may make, the dependence of the Funds’ future success on the general economy and its impact on the companies and industries in which the Funds invest, and

-the ability of the Funds’ portfolio companies to achieve their objectives.

This discussion uses words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “future,” “intends,” and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements for any reason.

The Royce Funds have based the forward-looking statements included in this commentary on information available to us on the date of the commentary, and we assume no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Although The Royce Funds undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, you are advised to consult any additional disclosures that we may make through future shareholder communications or reports.

This material is not authorized for distribution unless preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing or sending money. Smaller-cap stocks may involve considerably more risk than larger-cap stocks. (Please see “Primary Risks for Fund Investors” in the prospectus.)

Share:

Subscribe:

Sign Up

Follow: